Park of the week

217. Roxbourne Park

Roxbourne Park is in Harrow, although a small part falls into Hillingdon. Housing development in the area had begun in the 1880s but, as late as 1903, the land was agricultural in nature. Roxbourne Park was created in 1936 on an old landfill site. From 1939-45 the park was used as a campsite for prisoners of war.

In the south of the park, a miniature railway was built over part of the old dump and it continues to be run by the Harrow and Wembley Society of Model Engineers on Sunday afternoons from April to October. A café is open when the railway is running.

The park mainly consists of playing fields, with a perimeter tarmac path, but no formal areas. There is lots of space to walk, on grass, tarmac, concrete and gravel paths. There is a wide variety of trees, some only recently planted by the Friends of Roxbourne Park and some dating back 60 years. There are basketball hoops, an outdoor gym, football and cricket pitches and a children’s playground. 

The Yeading Brook runs along the eastern boundary of the park. The brook rises from nine springs in Harrow Weald and flows to Hillingdon and Ealing where it is known as the River Crane. This eventually empties into the Thames at Isleworth. 

There is a wooded walk along the stream. The main area of the park is separated from this by trees and scrub. The riverbank is fairly wild and overgrown, with willow and other trees and waterside plants. This area, previously used by British Gas for storage of pipes and transferred to Harrow Council in 1995, is now named Roxbourne Rough Nature Reserve.

There’s an outdoor performance space and the park is home to live music events. There’s a car park. 

Judith Field

Roxbourne Park, Cannon Lane, Harrow HA5 1JF